Computer Roll Top Desk
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A solid wood computer roll top desk is a marriage of twenty-first century efficiency and Old World craftsmanship. Since the early 1900s, these kinds of furnishings have earned a reputation for being hardworking office accessories for busy secretaries and bookkeepers decades. During the turn of the 19th century, the regular pedestal desk was redesigned with the addition of a hutch covered with wooden slats that could be raised and lowered horizontally, much like Venetian blinds. Inside the hutch, manufacturers constructed drawers and cubby holes which could be used to file away letters or small accessories. As an all-encompassing work station for administrative assistants and accountants, roll top desks became a permanent fixture in most offices. However, in the early twentieth century, steel desks and file cabinets took center stage and roll tops became pretty much obsolete.
Today, 19th century furnishings are making a comeback in homes and businesses of those who prefer a more traditional decor. A perfect place to park a high-tech computer, file paperwork, and organize mail; today's updated versions of roll top desks are built to last and superbly constructed with attention to detail. Old World craftsmanship includes dovetail drawers with solid wood grommets, solid hardwood drawer pulls and cubby holes that won't droop, bend, or come apart after years of use. Computer roll top desks include pull-out keyboard drawers and printer stands engineered to glide smoothly for easy access. Some models include room for recessed monitors which frees up desktop space. Two-pedestal models are sturdy enough to endure prolonged use and contain filing cabinet features or doors for optional storage. To complete a traditional or classic decor, solid wood units come stained in cherry, oak, or maple. Just as adding a single piece completes a room, adding Christ to our lives enables us to become spiritually complete in Him. "For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:9-10).
The most impressive and efficient feature of a solid wood computer roll top desk is the ability to neatly close off the work area and secure important papers under lock and key. Busy work-at-home professionals or business executives don't have to worry about leaving confidential papers or accounting documents around for curious eyes or identity thieves. The design enables users to simply lower the wooden slats while running errands or taking a lunch break and return to pick up where they left off, without turning off the PC. Clutter casualties can easily be avoided and when unexpected company comes, the top can be closed to present a clean appearance in a guest room or home office that is open to the public. Sturdy file drawers are usually letter-sized, but models can usually be ordered with lateral filing systems for an additional fee.
A high-quality hand-crafted computer roll top desk may be available in several finishes, including walnut, cherry, and maple stained quarter-sawn white or red oak or hickory. The beauty of hardwoods is that as furnishings get worn and scratched, they can easily be sanded, re-stained, or painted, especially if owners opt for a change of decor. Desks placed in a room that does double duty for overnight guests or baby's nursery can be painted to match any design. If Mom and Dad are short on space and need to use a corner of the nursery as a home office, a PC desk can be painted to coordinate with the room's colors. Solid woods accommodate the newer non-toxic paints and the roll top keeps little hands away from the PC or paperwork. Students may prefer to purchase an unfinished computer roll top desk and paint it in their school colors, or decorate with hand-painted or stenciled flowers in a cool one-of-a-kind design. Purchasing and painting or staining unfinished pieces is much easier than tackling removing existing stains and polyurethane finishes. Hiring a woodworker or soliciting an extra set of hands to help sand existing natural wood grain finishes is a good idea before attempting to refurbish.
The versatility of a computer roll top desk enables homemakers, students, and business professionals to utilize the unit in unique ways. While 19th century bookkeepers and secretaries and twenty-first century accountants may prefer to use the piece as a compact workstation; hobbyists, artists, and craftspeople may find different ways of making the most of a computer roll top desk. Nearly everyone uses a home or office PC, but hobbyists can store supplies, such as glue guns, stencils, or small tools in the cubby holes. Busy freelance artists and graphic designers may file away customer data in the pedestal cabinets, but use other compartments to house art supplies, inks, handmade papers, or photographs. Cubbies, nooks and crannies are the perfect place to keep CDs organized or pigeonhole reference books. Interior designers, or people who knit, sew, or work in textile design will love office furniture that enables them to surf the Internet for new ideas while keeping fabric samples, swatches, paint chips within reach.
No matter how one chooses to use a computer roll top desk, it is important to get a model that is well constructed and designed for durability. High-end units can be pricey, but in the long run, investing money in furnishings that will endure the knocks and bumps of everyday life will prove cost-effective. Consumers should shop online for the widest selection and to compare prices. Web-based vendors offer traditional Amish and Mission crafted furnishings, along with mass-produced units, which will be less expensive. Purchasing solid wood furnishings, even if unfinished, is a better buy than spending cash on poorly constructed veneers with shoddy fasteners and substandard fittings. An extra dollar spent today could result in a valuable collector's item on tomorrow's market.
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